• Medicaid Waivers, SSI/SSDI, and Behavioral Support: Oh My!!!!
  • An Introduction to the Georgia Crisis and Access Line & Mobile Crisis Response Services
  • Supporting Effective Transition: Collaborative Initiatives with Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency and the Georgia Department of Education
  • Sexuality-Issues for People Living with ASD
  • Much More…

Speaker Highlights

leslie-rubinLeslie Rubin, M.D.
Research Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Morehouse School of Medicine;
Co-Director, Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Emory University; Medical Director, Developmental Pediatric Specialists		 jennifer-singhJennifer Singh, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor,
School of History, Technology, and Society, Georgia Institute of Technology

Autism Conference Agenda

Here is the Schedule at a Glance for the conference. A detailed conference agenda will be posted in the near future.

Thursday – April 14, 2016

8:00 – 5:00pm Exhibitor Exposition
8:00 – 5:00pm Sensory Room
8:00 – 8:45 Registration & Coffee
8:45 – 9:00 Conference Welcome
9:00 – 10:30

State of the State Keynote Conversation

Donna Johnson, MSHS
State Director, Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs,
Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, GA

Jennie Couture, M. Ed.
Inclusion Manager at Bright from the Start,
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, Atlanta, GA

Ginny O’Connell
Program Manager/State PBIS Coordinator
Georgia Department of Education

Facilitator: Daniel Crimmins Ph.D., Director, Center for Leadership in Disability, GSU, Atlanta GA
10:30 – 10:45 Networking Break & Exposition
Tracks Early Intervention & Preschool Family Support Elementary & Secondary Education Adult Services & Supports Adult Services & Supports
10:45 – 12:15 Supporting Success for All Children in Early Learning Environments: An Agency Perspective

Jennie Couture, M.Ed.
Cassa Andrews, M.Ed.
Bright from the Start: GA Department of Early Care and Learning

 Recipes for Success: Essential Ingredients of Family Support

Cheryl Rhodes, M.S., LMFT
Marcus Autism Center

 Using Positive Behavior Support to Maximize the Potential of Students with Autism

Emily Graybill, Ph.D.
Center for Leadership in Disability, GSU

 Autism Services Initiative for Adults

Darlene M. Meador, Ph.D.
April L. Umstead, Ed.D, NCC, LPC
Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

 Navigating the JOURNEY: A Woman’s Perspective

Breanna Kelly, LMSW
Miyah Sundermeyer
Center for Leadership in Disability, GSU

Rebecca L. Taylor-Parker, B.A.
The ARC

Yvette Pegues, M.ED
Your Invisible Disability Group
12:30 – 1:30 Networking Lunch & Exposition
1:30 – 3:00

Featured Speaker & Award Recipient

Dr. Leslie Rubin, M.D.

Myths and Realities of Autism

President, Innovative Solutions for Disadvantage and Disability
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Morehouse School of Medicine Co-director, Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Emory University Medical Director, Developmental Pediatrics Specialists

Facilitator: Daniel Crimmins Ph.D., Director, Center for Leadership in Disability, GSU, Atlanta GA
3:00 – 3:15 Networking Break
Tracks Early Intervention & Preschool Family Support Elementary & Secondary Education Medical, Behavioral Health & Dental Services Adult Services & Supports
3:15- 4:45 Parent Coaching to Address Challenging Behaviors in Young Children: Focus on Positive Strategies

Lillie Huddleston, Ph.D. Breanna Kelly, LMSW
Allison O’Hara, Ed.S.
Center for Leadership in Disability, GSU

 Families of Diversity – not Adversity Panel

Stacey Ramirez,
The ARC Georgia

Debbie Harbin, Anchor of Hope

Ken Reed
Total Life Coaching and Consulting

Nasra Mirreh,
Refugee Family Assistance Program

 Evidence-Based Practices for Teachers of Students with Autism (And Every Other Student in the Classroom!)

Debbie Reagin, Ed.D.
Georgia Department of Education

 An Introduction to the Georgia Crisis and Access Line & Mobile Crisis Response Services

Holli L. Woods, MPA
Tiffany Person, LMSW
Georgia Crisis and Access Line

 Supporting Effective Transition: Collaborative Initiatives with Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency and the Georgia Department of Education

Kate Brady, Ph.D., ABD
Jeff Allen, CRC
Nick Perry
Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency

Wina Low
Georgia Department of Education
5:00 – 5:15 Closing Remarks

Friday – April 15, 2016

8:00 – 5:00 Exhibitor Exposition
8:00 – 5:00 Sensory Room
8:30 – 9:00 Registration & Coffee
9:00 – 10:30

State of the Research Keynote Conversation

Jennifer S. Singh, MPH, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, School of History, Technology and Society, Atlanta, GA.

Cathy Rice, Ph.D.
Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Director, Emory Autism Center

Facilitator: Daniel Crimmins Ph.D., Director, Center for Leadership in Disability, GSU, Atlanta GA
10:15 – 10:30 Networking & Exposition
Tracks Medical, Behavioral Health & Dental Services Early ID & Screening Transition to Adult Community Services & Supports Emergency Preparedness
10:45-12:15 Sexuality-Issues for People Living with ASD

Roy Sanders, M.D.
Decatur Family Psychiatry

 Early Identification & Screening of Children with ASD: Georgia Update

Lillie Huddleston, Ph.D.
Brian Barger, Ph.D.
Georgia Fruechtenicht
Center for Leadership in Disability, GSU

Jennifer Zubler M.D.
CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early program
GA LEND program

 ASPIRE program…Building Self-Determination Skills through Participation in Student Led IEPS

Elise James, MS
Program Specialist, Georgia Department of Education

 Medicaid Waivers, SSI/SSDI, and Behavioral Support: Oh My!!!!

Christina Mahoney, LCSW
Francine White, MA, DDP
Childkind, Inc.

 Protecting Children and Adults with Autism: A Community Effort

Lindsay Naeder, MSW
Autism Speaks
12:30 – 1:30 Networking Lunch & Exposition
1:30 – 3:00

State of the Union Keynote Conversation

Dena L. Gassner, LMSW
Program Director, Center for Understanding, Nashville, TN

Peter Doehring, Ph.D.
ASD Consultant
ASD Roadmap, Philadelphia, PA

Facilitator: Daniel Crimmins, Ph.D., Center for Leadership in Disability, GSU
3:00 – 3:15 Networking Break
Tracks Medical, Behavioral Health & Dental Services Referral & Diagnosis Transition from Youth to Adult Community Services and Supports Emergency Preparedness
3:15- 4:45 Psychoactive Medications Use in ASD

Roy Sanders, M.D.
Decatur Family Psychiatry

 Navigating the Referral Process to See a Specilaist and What to Do While You Wait

David O’Banion M.D., FAAP
Emory and Morehouse Schools of Medicine

Jennifer Zubler M.D.
CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early program,
Associate professor GA LEND program

 A Medical Home is not a House, but everyone needs one

Andrea S. Videlefsky, M.D.
Urban Family Practice Association

 Supporting Diverse Families and Communities

Sitara Nayak
Patricia Lanaspa
Parent to Parent of Georgia

 First Responders Training First Responders about Autism

Sgt. Jimmy Donohoe
Pensacola Police Dept. & The Autism Society of America
5:00 – 5:15 Closing Remarks

Sensory Room

The sensory room is designed to provide a quiet, peaceful space to soothe and offer a sensory break as needed. The sensory room will be open throughout the entire conference for your convenience.